HAMILTON — Once the frustration wore off pure determination took over for Eric Szeker.

After getting bumped off the puck in the neutral zone, Szeker, the Hun captain, collected himself and tracked down the puck and sent a bullet on net.

The shot with just 59.5 seconds left in the game found the back of the net and earned the Raiders a 3-3 tie with Haverford yesterday in an critical early season Independence League game played at Iceland.

Hun (6-1-2, 3-0-1 Independence) saw Haverford (2-2-1, 1-0-1 Independence) take a one-goal lead three times during the game and just when it seemed to be slipping away the never-say-die Raiders snatched a tie from the jaws of defeat.

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While, a win is always preferred than a tie. Considering Hun was chasing most of the game – despite some quality chances – and due to an injury to starting goalie Devin Cheifetz the Raiders went with back-up Natty Bayona. It was Bayona’s first varsity minutes and turn in an impressive 17 save performance.

Bayona was very clutch down the stretch as Haverford made one final run.

But, Szeker, who is known as “Captain Clutch” by his coach made the play that kept the Raiders lurking around the top spot of the league.

The tie was important because The Academy of the New Church, which is also undefeated in league play, invades Iceland on Friday.

Hopefully, Szeker has some more heroics in store.

“I got hit in the neutral zone and I was a little frustrated,’’ said Szeker, of the final tally. “So, I got up and got with the play and picked up the puck. My first instinct was to shoot it and it went in.’’

It was Szeker’s second goal of the game and he now has six on the season along with seven assists. Jordan Wang added the other Raiders score. J.C. Moritz, Alex Vukasin, Zack Roberson and Alec Karanikolas all had an assist for Hun.

Haverford got a pair of goals from Henry Brooks and another from Sam Bowen. Otis Baker turned back 26 shots.

“We had some glorious chances,’’ said Ian McNally, the Hun coach after the Raiders held a 29-20 advantage in shots. “It is taking three chances to get one goal and it is getting frustrating.’’

Fortunately, this isn’t the first time Szeker has bailed out the Raiders.

“This is like his third last minute goal of the game,’’ said McNally. “We just called him “Captain Clutch” in the lockerroom. He wasn’t much of an offensive player last year. We relied on him as a defenseman. But, this has been a very welcome new found plus from him this year.’’

Besides some welcome scoring Szeker has kept the Raiders confident on the ice. Despite trailing heading to the final minute he never doubted they could salvage the tie.

“We were playing good the whole game,’’ said Szeker. “We had confidence in ourselves to get one back. We were on them for most of the game so to get one it was not a shock for us.’’

When it gets to crunch time it seems Szeker files away the frustration and that fierce determination takes over.